AN ENCYCLOPEDIA OF HORTICULTURE. 



Pea continued. 



S. lineata), and the Spotted Pea Weevil (S. crinita). They 

 are about Jin. long, elliptical, black, covered with minute 

 scales, which are clay-coloured, rosy-greyish, or whitish; 

 the beak is short and stout; and the wing-covers bear 

 ten lines of minute pits from end to end. 8. crinita 

 may be known by having short bristles on the wing- 

 covers behind, and by its slightly smaller size. These 

 insects feed during the day, but are readily overlooked, 

 since, when alarmed, they at once fall from the plants 

 to the earth. They begin their ravages even in March, 

 and may be met with throughout the summer. 



The larvae of several kinds of moths are destructive 

 to Pea-plants, as well as to other garden produce (see 

 Mamestra, Plnsia, and Potherb Moths). The larvaa 

 of a small fly (see Phytomyza) burrow between the sur- 

 faces of the leaf, and make winding, white tracks, in 

 which they change to pupae, and thereafter into flies; 

 but these mines can scarcely be said to weaken the 

 plants. 



The roots are liable to be eaten by larvae that live 

 underground (see Noctua and Wireworms). The 

 young shoots and branches are occasionally smothered, 

 or nearly so, by swarms of Green Fly (see Aphides), 

 usually of the species Siphonophora Pisi and Aphis 

 Papaveris. 



Bees, but more particularly Humble Bees (which 

 see), at times, do considerable harm, by boring holes, 

 from which to suck the honey, without effecting the 

 fertilisation of the ovules by transferring pollen from 

 flower to flower. 



The larvaa of a tiny midge (Cecidomyia Pisi) may, at 

 times, be found feeding, in large numbers, in the young 

 pods, eating the unripe Peas, and causing the pods 

 to be spotted with yellow. The larvae are white, and 

 reach about ^in. in length. They bore out of the pods, 

 when full-fed, fall to the ground, and become pupae 

 in the earth. 



The larvae of certain beetles, and of two or three 

 moths, feed on the seeds in pods approaching ripeness, 

 as well as in dried Peas. The more noteworthy are : 

 Tychius quinque-punctatus and Bruchus Pisi and B. gra- 

 narius among beetles; and Grapholitha pisana, Guen. 

 (Endopisa proximana of Stainton's "Manual"), and, to 

 a less extent, Endopisa nigricana (of the same " Manual ") 

 among the moths. 



Tychius quinque-punctatus is a Weevil about iin. long, 

 elongate-ovate ; the beak tapers from base to tip, is 

 rather long, and curves downwards ; the colour is black, 

 covered with coppery-red scales. The lower surface is 

 pure white ; the thorax is rounded, the thighs rather thick, 

 toothed, and black ; the rest of the legs, and the antennas, 

 dull red. The beetles appear in late autumn, live through 

 the winter, and in spring and early summer lay eggs in 

 the young pods of various Leguminosce. The larvae feed 

 in the pods. They are yellowish-white and smooth. 

 When full-fed, they fall to the ground, and become 

 pupae in the soil. 



The Bruchidoe differ from Weevils in having the beak 

 short, broad, and flattened, the antennae straight and 

 gradually becoming thicker, the wing-cases shorter than 

 the abdomen, and the hind legs long and strong. B. Pisi 



Fio. 42. BRUCHUS PISI, showing the Beetle of the natural 

 size (a) and enlarged (6), and a Pea (c) in which the hole 

 of exit is seen on one side. 



(see Fig. 42) is about iin. long, oval, black, with a dense 

 coat of silky hairs, which are bright brown above, paler 

 beneath ; thorax variegated with orange hairs ; lateral 



Vol III 



Pea continued, 



teeth white ; wing-cases striated, with some paler 

 spots and obscure streaks ; tarsi and tibiae, in parts, and 

 four basal joints of antennae dull red. This beetle has 

 been most injurious in Southern Europe. It is believed 

 to be a native of North America. Though often im- 

 ported with Peas, it has not fully established itself any- 

 where in Britain. The beetles pair while the Peas are 

 in flower ; and the females deposit their eggs in the 

 Peas, in which the larvae live all winter, hollowing them 

 out; finally becoming perfect beetles, and boring out 

 from them in the ensuing spring and summer. B. gra- 

 narius is slightly smaller than B. Pisi, but is otherwise 

 much like that species, though with a thinner coat of 

 hair. The teeth on the sides of the thorax arc less dis- 

 tinct; and there are white dots on the back. The wing- 

 cases are sprinkled with whitish hairs, and there is a 

 brown stripe near the base of the wing-cases. The first 

 pair of legs, and the four basal joints of the antennae, 

 are pale red; and the second and third pairs of legs 

 are dark throughout. B. granariua is common in Peas, 

 and also in pods of Beans, Broom, Furze, and Vetches. 

 In habits, it is much like B. Pisi. It has been asserted 

 that Peas and Beans containing the larvae injure the 

 health of persons, and of domestic animals, who partake 

 of them. 



The moths hurtful, in the larval state, to Peas are 

 included in the great group of Tortricina (which see), 

 and are now referred to the genus Grapholitha, though 

 Stainton, in his " Manual," includes them in the genus 

 Endopisa. Of these, the most common is the Pea Moth 

 (G. pisana, Guen. = Endopisa proximana of Stainton's 

 ''Manual"). This insect measures about Jin. across the 

 front wings, which are olive-brown in colour, with a 

 row of short, pale yellowish lines along the front 

 margin, directed backwards. Near the hind margin is 

 a silvery ring, inclosing a spot in which are three or 

 four short, black lines. The moths fly in June; they 

 lay eggs on the young pods, and the larvas bore into 

 the pods to reach the seeds. When full-fed, they are 

 about iin. long, rather stout, and yellowish, with a 

 black head, and brown dots on the rings. They eat 

 their way out of the seeds when full-fed, and creep 

 underground to become pupae. The moths appear in 

 the following June. Nearly allied to this species is 

 another, G. tenebrosana, Dp. (E. nigricana of Stainton), 

 which differs in its darker brown ground-colour, and 

 only faintly yellowish tip ; in its whitish and pale 

 yellow scales, scattered over the wings ; and in the spot 

 near the hind margin being very little yellower than 

 the rest, and inclosing mere dots instead of streaks. 

 The larva of this species also feeds in Peas. 



Remedies. These differ with the habits of the various 

 insects, and other foes. For measures to get rid of 

 Millipedes, see Millipedes and Myriapoda; and see 

 also Sings and Snails for remedies against the 

 attacks of those creatures. 



The Pea Weevils (Sitona lineata and S. crinita) may 

 be best prevented from doing serious damage by using 

 all means to promote the rapid growth of the plants, as 

 they are thus protected against the loss of all their 

 leaves. Good soil, well prepared and well manured, is 

 one of the best means for obtaining a good crop of 

 Peas. A dressing of coal ashes along the rows also 

 favours growth. It is recommended that Peas should 

 follow Cabbages or root-crops. All kinds of shelter for 

 the beetles should be abolished. To free the plants 

 when attacked, a dressing of lime, or of soot, sprinkled 

 on the wet plants, has proved useful ; and gas-lime, or 

 sand mixed with paraffin, scattered on the soil along 

 the rows, would probably help considerably. Harrowing, 

 or hoeing the Peas when wet, is also said to be of 

 marked benefit. Shaking the plants over tarred canvas, 

 or over sheets, from which the beetles can be swept up 



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